Excerpt from Research Paper :

The other major advantage of the use of a pilot group for conducting evaluations and 360 degree feedback survey is it enables pilot participants to act as champions who promote the process in the rest of the organization.

Using Rater Groups:

When conducting evaluations and 360 degree feedback assessments, using small but relevant rater groups is one of the best methods. The consideration of the number of people to participate in providing feedback is critical because providing response is the main aspect of 360 degree appraisals. In addition to using the small rater groups, it's also important manage the rater selection since leaving this to the participants would tempt them to conduct the survey in their own favor. However, the selected raters should have normal interactions with employees being evaluated in order to provide accurate performance feedback.

Aligning Employee Goals with Organizational Goals:

Aligning employee goals with organizational goals is important since it allows the organization to capitalize on the productivity of the workforce to accomplish greater results by ensuring that the organization's plans are being implemented. Aligning employee goals with organizational goals is important because each worker must be held accountable for the accomplishment of outcomes, which support the company's goals ("Aligning Performance," 2005).

Linking employee goals and the agency's strategic objectives provides the workers with a sense of importance regarding their job responsibilities and tasks. Traditionally, many managers have tried to do this through linking the workers goals with their own. However, a more powerful practice has been developed and adopted by many organizations across the globe. This new practice involves the alignment of employee goals with high-level departmental or agency's goals. In most cases, organizations create goals that are linked with employee goals through the Result-Oriented Performance Culture System. Through this system, organizations develop the employee performance plans based on its strategic goals.

The Result-Oriented Performance Culture System basically involves eight steps that organizations utilize to create its goals. The steps include an analysis of the overall picture, identification of work unit achievements, individual achievements that support these work unit goals, and conversion of the projected achievements into performance standards. Furthermore, this system includes identifying work unit and individual mechanisms, developing these standards as well as determining and conducting performance evaluation guidelines.

Compensation Strategies:

As mentioned earlier, employee compensation or rewards is one of the major parts in performance management since it's an important motivator toward the achievement of the probable organizational goals and results ("Use Compensation Strategy," n.d.). However, an effective compensation strategy is important in order to achieve the right behaviors and organization's effectiveness. The rewards strategy should not only reflect the strategic organizational objectives but it should also reinforce the desired organizational culture. One of the available compensation strategies that drive right behaviors is the provision of a right combination of cash and non-cash benefits.

The compensation strategy should include two types of benefits i.e. monetary and non-monetary benefits. Some of the monetary compensations include salaries, commissions, bonuses, holidays, health and medical rewards, and retirement benefits. On the other hand, the non-monetary rewards are significant and challenging jobs, career advancement opportunities, recognition, fair treatment, and safe and healthy working environment.

However, a critical aspect to balance these rewards is equitable compensation since it boosts people's motivation and morale. Employees are motivated towards a task when they believe that there is fair pay which reflects their contributions toward the achievement of organizational strategic goals. An organization can achieve equitable compensation that drives right behaviors by establishing a pay range that considers the contribution of the individual employees to the organization.

Developing Actionable Plans:

Organizational or business planning is the ongoing process of breeding and implementing ideas. However, one of the most important facets of this process of strategic planning is developing actionable plans for both managers and employees to accomplish the expected goals. The first main step of this process is asking questions regarding the entire organization, its managers and employees ("Actionable Business Planning," n.d.). This is followed with the identification of organizational objectives, responsibilities and timelines.

In the process of developing actionable goals, managers determine these objectives, functions and timelines. They also ensure that they have designed a framework for the achievement of these goals and evaluation procedures. On the other hand, in the development of actionable plans, employees have a crucial part in ensuring that they develop strategies that fit into their specific job tasks. Every employee should ensure that they play their part in the accomplishment of the detailed strategic plans. However, the development of these goals should involve both managers and employees to help workers understand their specific job expectations and organizational goals.

Avoiding Pacifying Performance Evaluations:

Performance evaluation or review is an important aspect of performance management since it influences the ability of an organization to accomplish its objectives. However, while feedback needs to be provided and received with eagerness, the provision of on-the-job feedback can be invaluable in some cases. Therefore, it's important for organizations to understand the critical step in avoiding pacifying performance evaluations. This crucial step basically involves ensuring that feedback is provided away from the normal work pressures.

This is mainly because feedback can't be requested for on the spot and it's not a discussion for public forum (Glickman, 2011). Constructive feedback is provided and received behind closed doors to achieve its two principal goals in an organization. These goals are receiving useful, supportive, and actionable response as well as making the process as easy as possible on the person providing feedback. This in turn enables the organization to accomplish two main benefits i.e. improving employee performance and enhancing organizational performance.

Conclusion:

Performance management is an important topic in human resource management that involves more than giving and receiving feedback, ratings and coaching. This is because the process involves collecting 360 degree feedback, encouraging workers to complete assignments, and linking employee goals with the goals of the organization. It also involves creating development plans for employees and rewarding or recognizing good performance.

References:

"Actionable Business Planning." (n.d.). Think Up College of Management and Technology.

Retrieved from Walden University website: http://thinkup.waldenu.edu/management/business-planning/item/11552-actionable-business-planning

Class Workforce to Serve the American People. Retrieved from U.S. Office of Personnel Management website: http://www.opm.gov/perform/overview.asp

"The Importance of Performance Management." (n.d.). Farm Service Agency. Retrieved from United States Department of Agriculture website: http://www.apfo.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/perf_mgmt_09_email1.pdf